The Lakers were the hot breath on the San Antonio Spurs' necks, the big, looming shadow they never could outrun.

In the end, it was a 93-87 win for the Lakers on Tuesday night that closed out a 4-1 series win that was hauntingly familiar, numbingly the same.

The Spurs set the pace and the Lakers finished the race.

This time it was Kobe Bryant with two sensational drives to the hoop, Rick Fox with a fast-break hoop and Robert Horry with a killer 3-pointer from the corner.

No matter. They could play until August and the ending never would change.

The Lakers owned the fourth quarter in the series, outscoring the Spurs by a combined margin of 125-88.

What you get with the Spurs is MVP Tim Duncan and a makeshift cast of characters that -- on its own -- might have a hard time getting through the playoffs in the developmental league.